AEDA Visitor Economy Industry Forum 2026
What’s next for Adelaide’s visitor economy?
Join the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) for the next Visitor Economy Industry Forum. Connect with industry peers, gain insights into the latest visitor economy trends and discover the opportunities shaping Adelaide’s visitor experience.
Hear from:
- Dr Anita Fairuz — Advisor, Economic Research, Adelaide Economic Development Agency
- Gemma Nelson — Advisor, Tourism Industry Development, Adelaide Economic Development Agency
- Chris Burford — Executive Director, Industry and Engagement, South Australian Tourism Commission
- Thomas Zinn – General Manager, Treehouse Hotel Adelaide
- Becc Bates — Chief Executive Officer, Immersive Light and Art (ILA) at Aurora Restaurant
- Malakai Yeomans – General Manager, Little National Adelaide
- Adam Stanford – Director, Research & Insights, South Australian Tourism Commission
Explore the latest data, insights and industry perspectives to support informed visitor economy business decisions and help shape what’s next for Adelaide.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: The Boulevard Room, Stamford Plaza Adelaide, 150 North Terrace, Adelaide
Cost: Free, but registrations are essential.
Additional information: Networking drinks and canapés will commence following the presentations. Please advise of any dietary requirements when registering.
What to expect:
- State & City Data Insights - Deep-dive into national tourism trends, state performance, and city-centric foot-traffic indicators.
- AEDA Initiatives & Opportunities - An overview of key programs, events, and upcoming campaigns.
- Global Campaigns & Sustainable Travel - spotlighting South Australia's MICHELIN partnership, True South, and Travel for Nature initiatives.
- Hotel Investment Spotlight - Hear why Adelaide was chosen for these major developments and what they bring to the city's hospitality landscape.
Hear from Industry Experts
Dr Anita Fairuz
Advisor, Economic Research
Adelaide Economic Development Agency
Dr Anita Fairuz brings expertise in economic research, analysis and data interpretation to her work at AEDA. Her research explores the trends and insights shaping Adelaide’s visitor economy, from changing visitor behaviour and economic activity to emerging opportunities for the city. Anita helps translate complex data into meaningful insights, giving industry a clearer picture of what’s happening now and what it could mean for Adelaide’s visitor economy in the future.
Gemma Nelson
Advisor, Tourism Industry Development
Adelaide Economic Development Agency
Gemma Nelson helps shape the visitor economy strategy for the city, working with industry to foster long-term growth and drive positive economic outcomes. She collaborates with stakeholders to enhance tourism experiences, support business resilience and position Adelaide as a vibrant, year-round destination. With more than 20 years' experience in tourism, hospitality, sales and destination development, she is passionate about building a strong and sustainable visitor economy.
Chris Burford
Executive Director, Industry and Engagement
South Australian Tourism Commission
Chris joined the SATC in April 2024 and leads the Industry and Engagement group, overseeing relationships with government, tourism industry stakeholders and media. The group also supports executive services, tourism policy, including Tourism as a Force for Good, and industry and regional engagement. Chris brings more than 20 years’ experience in communications and media management across the public and private sectors. Before joining SATC, he held senior corporate affairs and media roles at Beach Energy and the South Australian Government.
Thomas Zinn
General Manager
Treehouse Hotel Adelaide
Thomas is a senior hotel executive with more than 20 years’ international experience across tourism and hospitality, specialising in hotel openings, operational excellence and high-performing teams. In Adelaide, he led the opening of Australia’s first Hotel Indigo, establishing a distinctive lifestyle hotel with a strong sense of place. As General Manager of Treehouse Hotel Adelaide, Thomas brings a people-focused leadership style and a commitment to supporting Adelaide’s visitor economy and city growth.
Becc Bates, PSM GAICD
Chief Executive Officer
Immersive Light and Art (ILA) at Aurora Restaurant
Becc is Chief Executive Officer of Immersive Light and Art (ILA), Adelaide’s home for immersive art and entertainment, where technology, food, arts and entertainment converge. She leads the team in creating distinctive experiences, including Aurora, ILA’s restaurant showcasing exceptional culinary craftsmanship. With a career spanning economic development, the music industry and state government, Becc previously served as Director of Creative Industries, leading policies to support creative enterprise in South Australia. In 2024, she received the Public Service Medal for her contributions to the state’s music and creative industries.
Malakai Yeomans
General Manager
Little National Adelaide, part of DOMA Hotels
Malakai Yeomans is the General Manager of Little National Adelaide, part of DOMA Hotels. Over the past six years with DOMA, he has held leadership roles across the group’s Canberra properties before relocating to lead the opening of the brand’s first South Australian property. Malakai is passionate about developing high performing teams, creating memorable guest experiences, and supporting the growth of tourism and the visitor economy. He is proud to be part of Adelaide’s thriving hotel sector and the city’s continued growth as a destination for visitors, business and events.
Adam Stanford
Director, Research & Insights
South Australian Tourism Commission
Adam Stanford is the Director, Research & Insights at the South Australian Tourism Commission. In the role he heads up the economic impact, measurement and consumer research functions, ensuring that the actions of the commission are focused on achieving the ambitious potential of $14.0b in visitor expenditure in South Australia by 2030. Adam leads a team of research professionals and is responsible for identifying and driving strategic projects within the SATC and providing evidenced based insights.
About the Visitor Economy Industry Forum
The AEDA Visitor Economy Industry Forum is an industry briefing bringing Adelaide’s visitor economy community together to connect with peers, explore the latest data and insights, and understand the trends and opportunities shaping the city’s visitor economy.
Want to know more?
For more information about the Visitor Economy Industry Forum, please contact [email protected].